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by Council of Australian Governments

Abstract

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 21st meeting in Adelaide on 26 March 2008. The key outcomes from the meeting relating to Indigenous issues are detailed below.

As part of the COAG Reform Agenda, COAG agreed on more than 23 specific actions aimed at closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

COAG reaffirmed its commitment to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage and agreed on a new national target to halve the gap in Indigenous employment outcomes within a decade. Other actions were agreed on relating to Indigenous health, education, affordable housing and water supply; with particular focus on dental services, elective surgery, transition care, and homelessness.

COAG asked the Indigenous Reform Working Group to prepare a reform proposal on Indigenous Early Childhood Development for the COAG meeting in July 2008, plus proposals regarding protective security from violence for Indigenous parents and children, remote service delivery and workforce planning, and economic participation and active welfare, for the October 2008 COAG meeting.

The other key themes from the meeting related to reforms, and included: